Mr. Howard was an avid Los Angeles Dodgers and Anaheim Angels fan, attending numerous games at Dodgers Stadium. His family said his love for the Dodgers continued after he moved to Colorado. He also enjoyed fishing at Lake Isabella in California, was a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, and downloaded and listened to lots of music.

Mr. Howard was diagnosed with renal-cell carcinoma in late January 2007. In March 2012, he moved to Los Angeles, where he participated in a clinical trial treatment at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

“He fought the cancer as hard as he could and with the love of his wife, Freda, he never gave up,” his family said, “but throughout it all, he always had a caring spirit about him and would keep everyone laughing with his jokes and humor. He was a wonderful uncle to all of his nieces and nephews, and they fondly called him ‘Patrick Star.’”

Mr. Howard is survived by his wife of six years, Freda Kay Pinnecoose, of Ignacio; sister, Tracy Hemmingway of Lancaster, Calif.; and numerous extended family members in La Plata County and Southern California.

Cremation will occur. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 15449 Colorado Highway 172 in Ignacio. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., also on Saturday at St. Ignatius.